Ten years ago, Ty Bhojwani bought a piece of land just outside Mumbai, although there were a thousand reasons not to. Convinced of the site’s good energy, he turned to Architecture Brio – Robert Verrijt and Shefali Balwani’s Dutch-Indian firm – and Timothy Oulton Studio – to interpret their vision of a plantation-style house.
‘We found the idea fascinating,’ says Robert. ‘This typology, with its slats, verandas and semi-outdoor spaces, fits well within a tropical climate.’ They also found inspiration in the ancient churches that sit in the hilly landscape on India’s west coast, and developed a scheme that elegantly blends the two vernaculars.
‘From the outset we imagined the house as if we’d found an old ruin, a few old solid stone walls, overgrown and abandoned,’ Robert says. Two light steel pavilions are delicately placed into this ruin with deep verandas, expansive canopies and white-painted screens protecting the occupants from the tropical sun and rainfall.
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They named the house ‘The Ray’ because of the way the light moves around the spaces. As the terrace is an extension of the living room and the glass front can be fully retracted, inside and outside almost become one.
Throughout, furniture designed or sourced by Timothy Oulton Studio enhances Brio’s architecture and vice versa. One example is Oulton’s cloud-like ‘Nest’ sofa, where Ty and Esha like to sit in the evenings enjoying the scent of the bougainvillea and frangipani trees outside.
Architect Robert says they deliberately chose whites and beiges in different textures, shades and patterns to refer to the tonality of the ancient chapels that inspired the building. ‘The neutrality of the colour palette also, in a way, is a stark contrast to the exuberance of the tropical landscape surrounding the house,’ he adds.
To further accentuate the airy dimensions of the property, a cluster of ‘Anchor’ and Cove’ pendants from Timothy Oulton Studio are suspended at slightly differing heights.
Shades of white and indigo keep things feeling fresh and relaxed in the family room, which also acts as a private movie theatre. The sofa, tables and lights are all by Timothy Oulton Studio.
A light-grey cement polished floor runs throughout. Robert says: ‘The thick walls made from Dhrangadhra limestone keep the interiors really cool and comfortable. Their natural, earthy textures exude a sense of belonging’.
All focus in the bedroom is directed towards the deeply carved stone staircase that leads from the room and overlooks the view of the bay beyond. The steel windows can slide into a pocket to emphasise the seamless transition to the steps beyond. The locally tailored curtains and Saphed Home bedding are made of natural linens that lend a light softness to the room.
In order to build the house on the hill, landscape architect Kunal Maniar created a series of lushly planted terraces, strategically designed to conserve water and retain soil. ‘He has masterfully embedded “our ruin“ in a tropical landscape,’ says Robert.
Kunal adds: ‘Robert, Shefali and I shared a common vision: the house may be the protagonist but the landscape would play a crucial supporting role. Every decision was a response to the contours of the land. Very close to my heart are the fruit-bearing trees, which produce enough for human consumption as well as for the birds and the bees.’ architecturebrio.com; @kunalmaniarassociates
